Mr. Speaker, in 1997, the federal government transferred ownership of the Tracadie firing range to the Province of New Brunswick for conversion to ecological and tourism development. The people of Tracadie are now concerned because of the recent information on the use of toxic herbicides at Gagetown, New Brunswick.

My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Can he confirm, yes or no, that shells containing highly carcinogenic substances were used on the Tracadie-Sheila firing range, as well as toxic herbicides?

Mr. Speaker, as is the case with the use of agent orange and other practices by the department in the distant past, we are prepared to examine each case where products were used which caused problems and had harmful effects. We are, of course, concerned with the case of agent orange which, as I have said, was sprayed seven days a week for two years over Gagetown's lands. We will continue all our investigations on all our bases to determine whether other agents have been used.

Mr. Speaker, according to the Montreal Gazette of June 13, the RCMP estimated in February 2004 that 800 people enter Canada annually to be sold, most of them in the sex trade. Traffic in human beings means their recruitment by some kind of intimidation or offer of payment by someone with authority over them, for purposes of exploitation.

What measures is the government taking to prevent this abomination of trafficking in people, trafficking in foreigners?

Mr. Speaker, during debate on private members' business on Monday, May 9, the member for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord, while presenting examples during debate on his bill, Bill C-312, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act, appointment of returning officers, which we will be voting on tomorrow, made reference to my riding of Ahuntsic and stated that:

In another riding, it was discovered that the returning officer was the president of the Liberal association for the riding. It is time somebody woke up. This is Earth calling.

That is inappropriate language.

The returning officer is the president of the Liberal riding association in Ahuntsic.

This matter was only brought to my attention last Monday when the member for Calgary West, while referring to the May 9 presentation by the member for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord, stated:

In the member's last presentation he spoke about how even current presidents of Liberal riding associations have actually been appointed to be the returning officers in their ridings. He listed specifically my riding, the riding of Ahuntsic.

While I support the aim of the member opposite's motion, I have to repeat the remarks of my colleague from Gatineau in the same debate, “We must not get too carried away on this point. People's reputations are at stake”. This is something the opposition is continually forgetting.

Second, she said that even Mr. Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, had said, in his testimony before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, that he would, in the end, keep almost all of the incumbent returning officers if he had the authority to hire or dismiss them.

Mr. Speaker, I call on you to ask the member for Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord and the member for Calgary West to withdraw their comments, since they are totally erroneous.

Let me be clear. The facts are the Ahuntsic returning officer did not hold the position of riding president at the time of his nomination and therefore, by consequence, definitely did not hold the position at the time of his appointment.

Again we continue to malign reputations in the House without any consideration for the truth and only for political expediency. In fact, it has become the sport of choice of both the Bloc and the Conservatives.

As such, I respectfully request that the members for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord and Calgary West be asked to withdraw their specific comments which are untrue.

I thank the hon. member. I hope that will be the end of this matter. I believe the hon. member for Calgary West was merely citing the hon. member. Once he has read this he may want to add a few words later.

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure today to table, in both official languages, copies of a report entitled “Review of Canadian Federal Fiscal Forecasting--Processes and Systems” presented to the government as promised by Dr. Tim O'Neill.

Dominic LeBlancParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 110.(2) I have the honour to table a certificate of nomination with respect to the Canadian Polar Commission. This certificate stands referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.